How to pronounce shortness
Say it like SHORT-nus. Shortness has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SHORT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce shortness. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SHORT
- nus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Shortness pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SHORTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- nusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of shortness
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SHAWT-nus.
What does shortness mean?
- The property of being short, of being small of stature or brief.“the shortness of a stubby pencil”
- The result or product of being short.
- The property of being short or terse.“I was chastened by the shortness of her reply.”
Where does shortness come from?
From Middle English schortnesse, from Old English sċortnes, sċeortnys, equivalent to short + -ness.
Questions about saying shortness
How do you pronounce shortness?
Say SHORT-nus. The American pronunciation is /ˈʃɔrtnəs/. In British English it is /ˈʃɔːtnəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in shortness?
Shortness has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SHORT). Broken into parts: SHORT · nus.
Is shortness pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈʃɔːtnəs/ (SHAWT-nus).